Slope and skew hanger

ABSTRACT

A slope and skew hanger for connecting a rafter to a beam at a variety of slope and skew angles. The hanger includes a connection portion and an integrally attached seat portion which is connected with the connection portion along a bend line. The connection portion includes a central opening, a pair of side connecting brackets joined by connecting strips and adapted for connection to the beam, and a pair of centrally positioned connection flanges extending outwardly from the front face of the connection portion and adapted for connection with the sides of the rafter. A further feature of the present invention is the provision of a raised spherical portion and an offset nail receiving opening to facilitate the angled nailing of such a hanger or bracket to the beam or rafter.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a slope and skew hanger forconnecting a first or supported wooden member such as a rafter to asecond or supporting wooden member such as a beam at a desired slope andskew. A further feature of the present invention is the provision of animproved angle nailing feature which is particularly applicable to theslope and skew hanger of the present invention when the rafter is skewedat a relatively sharp angle relative to the beam.

2. Description of the Prior Art

A variety of hangers and other devices have been used in the prior artto mount a first wooden member such as a rafter to a second woodenmember such as a beam at both slope and skew angles. One such prior artdevice is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,423,977 and issued to Gilb. Thisprior art patent discloses a single element slope and skew hanger whichincludes, among other features, an elongated continuous backplate whichis provided with a plurality of longitudinally extending embossments.Such device is also provided with a plurality of tab members and sidesupport members for connecting the hanger to a supported member and asupporting member, respectively. Although the device described in U.S.Pat. No. 4,423,977 is generally acceptable, a need exists foralternative slope and skew hanger devices which provide greater supportbetween the rafter and beam and in which the device is connected withand supports the first member or rafter at a more centrally locatedposition.

Further, because the use of a slope and skew hanger of the type to whichthe present invention relates commonly requires nailing into thesupporting beam at an angle, a need exists for an improved featurefacilitating such angled nailing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a slope and skew hanger for supportinga first member or rafter relative to a second wooden member or beam at avariety of slope angles as well as a variety of skew angles. The deviceof the present invention is formed from a single piece of sheet metalmaterial and provides increased support for the supported wooden rafterrelative to the supporting beam.

More specifically, the hanger of the present invention includes a seatportion for connection with a portion of the bottom edge of thesupported member or rafter and a connection portion which is integrallyjoined with the seat and which is bent, configured and cut to provide apair of side connection brackets for attachment to the supporting memberor beam and a pair of connection flanges for connection to oppositesides of the supported member or rafter. In the preferred embodiment,the pair of side connection brackets extend along the entire length ofthe connection portion. Top and bottom connection strips are provided tojoin the top and the bottom portions of the side brackets, respectively.The connection flanges are integrally formed with an inner edge of thepair of connection brackets and are positioned between the connectionstrips joining the connection brackets. With the hanger of the presentinvention, a supported element or rafter can be supported relative to asupporting member or beam at both a selected slope and a selected skewangle.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the sideconnection brackets are also provided with a plurality of raised dimplesor bubbles to define angled nailing openings and to facilitate anglednailing at points where such nailing is common when using the slope andskew hanger of the present invention. These raised dimples furtherreinforce the brackets by distributing the load over a greater area.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide animproved slope and skew hanger for supporting a supported wooden membersuch as a rafter relative to a supporting wooden member such as a beamat both a slope and skew angle.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved slopeand skew hanger which is constructed from a single piece of sheet metalmaterial.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved slopeand skew hanger which exhibits increased support strength and stability.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved hangerdevice having an improved angle nailing feature to facilitate anglednailing.

These and other objects of the present invention will become apparentwith reference to the drawings, the description of the preferredembodiment and the appended claims.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the slope and skew hanger of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the slope and skew hanger of the presentinvention showing its formation from a single piece of material andprior to its respective parts being bent into position for use.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view as viewed along the section line 3--3of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the slope and skew hanger ofthe present invention in assembly with supporting and supported members.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the slope and skew hanger ofthe present invention in which the supported member is connected withthe supporting member at a skew angle.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the slope andskew hanger of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the slope and skew hanger of FIG. 6 showing itsformation from a single piece of material.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The slope and skew hanger per se of the present invention is illustratedbest in FIG. 1. FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate the use of the hanger of thepresent invention to support a supported member or rafter 10 relative toa supporting member or beam 11 at either a slope or a skew angle, orboth. In particular, FIG. 4 shows the hanger of the present inventionbeing used to support a rafter 10 relative to the beam 11 in which therafter 10 is sloped relative to the beam 11 at an angle other than 90degrees. FIG. 5 shows the hanger of the present invention being used tosupport a rafter 10 relative to a beam 11 in a position in which therafter 10 is skewed relative to the beam 11 at an angle other than 90degrees. The hanger of the present invention can, of course, be used tosupport a rafter 10 relative to a beam 11 in which the rafter 10 is bothsloped and skewed relative to the beam 11.

With a continuing reference to FIG. 4, the supported member or rafter 10includes a top edge 12, a pair of parallel sides 14 (only one of whichis shown in FIG. 4) and a bottom edge (not shown) which is parallel tothe top edge 12. The beam includes a top edge 15, a front face 16 andcorresponding parallel back face (not shown) and a bottom edge (notshown) generally parallel to the top edge 15.

The hanger of the present invention is illustrated best in FIG. 1 and isshown as generally comprising a seat portion 18 and a connection portion19. The seat portion 18 includes a seat member 20 adapted for engagementwith the bottom edge of the rafter 10 as shown in FIG. 4. In thepreferred embodiment, the seat 20 has a generally rectangularconfiguration having a pair of side edges and first and second ends inwhich a first end is integrally connected with the connecting portion 19along a first connection or bend line 24. A nail receiving opening 23(FIG. 2) is provided in the seat 20 for connection to the bottom edge ofthe rafter 10 (FIG. 4). The side edges of the seat 20 are generallyparallel to one another and are integrally joined with a pair of seatside members 21 which extend outwardly from the seat 20 at substantiallyright angles. Each of the seat sides 21 is provided with a dimpled nailhole 22 to facilitate connection thereof to the sides 14 of the rafter10 (FIG. 4). Each of the seat sides 21 also includes a forwardlyextending beveled edge 25 which begins near the fold line 24 and extendsrearwardly to an outer side edge of the sides 21.

The connection portion 19 of the slope and skew hanger is a generallyrectangular member having top and bottom edges 36 and 38 and a pair ofouter side edges 34. The portion 19 also includes a central opening 39having top and bottom inner edges 37 and 42, respectively and a pair ofside inner edges 35.

The connection portion 19 further includes a pair of side connectionbrackets 26 and 28 for connection to the front face 16 of the beam 11 asillustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. Each of the side connection brackets 26and 28 includes an outer edge corresponding to the outer edge 34 of theportion 19 and an inner edge coinciding with the edges 35 of the opening39. Each bracket 26 and 28 also includes a pair of end edge portionscoinciding with the top and bottom edges 36 and 38. The top ends of eachof the side connection brackets 26 and 28 are integrally connected toone another by a top connecting strip 29. The top connecting strip 29includes an outer edge which coincides with the top edge 36 of theconnection portion 19 and the brackets 26 and 28 to form a continuoustop edge. The strip 29 also includes an inner edge positioned betweenthe side brackets 26 and 28 which defines, in part, the central opening39 in the connection portion 19. The strip 29 is provided with acentrally located nailing opening 41.

The lower ends of the side brackets 26 and 28 are joined together by abottom connecting strip 30. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the bottomconnecting strip 30 is integrally formed with the lower portions of theside brackets 26 and 28. A bottom edge portion of the connecting strip30 coincides with the bottom edge 38 of the connection portion 19, witha portion being integrally formed with the seat 20 along the bend line24. The strip 30 also includes a top edge 42 which defines the bottomedge of the opening 39.

Each of the side connection brackets 26 and 28 is further provided witha plurality of nail positioning elements 44 positioned near the outeredge 34 to facilitate angled nailing into the beam 11 as illustrated inFIGS. 4 and 5. In the preferred embodiment, each of the elements 44,like the dimpled nail openings 22, comprises a raised dimple or bubbleportion which is raised above the front flat surface of the sidebrackets 26 and 28. The specific raised dimple or bubble construction ofthe members 44 is illustrated best in FIG. 3 and is shown as comprisinga domeshaped spherical portion which intersects with the bracket surfacein a generally circular configuration. Each of the dimple portions 44 isprovided with a nail opening 45. Each of the nail openings 45 is offsetfrom the symmetrical center of the dimple portions 44 so as tofacilitate angled nailing. In the preferred embodiment, each of thedimple portions 44 has an inside radius of approximately 5/16 of an inchand the nail holes 45 are positioned entirely to the outside half of thedimple 44. In the preferred embodiment, five dimple portions 44 andcorresponding nail openings 45 are provided on each of the brackets 26and 28.

A pair of connection flanges 31 and 32 extend outwardly from theconnection portion 19 for connection to the sides of the rafter 10. Inthe preferred embodiment, each of the connection flanges 31 and 32includes an inner edge which is integrally connected with an inside edgeof its corresponding side connection bracket 26 and 28. As illustratedin the drawings, the connection flanges 31 and 32 are bent outwardlyrelative to their respective side connection brackets 26 and 28 alongsecond bend lines 46 and 48. It should be noted that the connectionflanges 31 and 32 are adjacent to the central opening 39, are offsetfrom one another and are spaced inwardly from the top and bottom edges36 and 38 of the connection portion 19. Each of the flanges 31 and 32 isprovided with a plurality of nail receiving openings 49.

The slope and skew hanger of the present invention is manufactured froma single piece of sheet metal. The hanger, and its flattened form, priorto bending, is illustrated in FIG. 2. During the manufacturing process,cuts are made in the sheet metal to conform to the exteriorconfiguration of the hanger as well as to cut out the sections 50, 51and 52 and to make the cut lines 54 and 55 to define the flanges 31 and32. Following these cuts, the nail receiving holes 22, 23, 41, 45, and49 are drilled or punched. This is in turn followed by forming theraised dimple portions 44 by an appropriate punch or other formingprocess. The various portions of the hanger can then be bent to conformto the shape in which the hanger is desired to be shipped, displayed orsold. Such bends, include bending of the seat sides 21 upwardly relativeto the seat 20, bending of the seat 20 forwardly relative to theconnection portion 19, and bending of the connection flanges 31 and 32outwardly relative to the side connection brackets 26 and 28.

When the device is used, the hanger is first connected to the rafter 10by nailing the seat 20 to the bottom edge of the rafter 10 by driving anail through the nail receiving opening 23. The seat sides 21 are alsoconnected to the rafter by nails driven through the nail receivingopenings 22. The connection portion 19 of the hanger is secured to theend of the rafter or supported member 10 by driving a nail through thenail receiving opening 41 and into the end of the rafter 10. If therafter is intended to be mounted to a supporting member or beam 11 in aposition that is only sloped, but not skewed, relative to the beam 11,nails are driven through the nail receiving openings 45 as illustratedin FIG. 4. The presence of the raised dimple or bubble 44 and the offsetpositioning of the nail opening 45 facilitates angle nailing.

If the orientation between the rafter 10 and beam 11 is such that therafter 10 is skewed relative to the beam 11, whether or not is alsosloped, the side connection brackets 26 and 28 are bent relative to theconnection strips 29 and 30 along third bend lines corresponding to theinner edges of the brackets 26 and 28. After such bending, the brackets26 and 28 are in the positions illustrated in FIG. 5. Nails are thendriven through the nail receiving openings 45 and into the front face ofthe beam 11.

An alternate embodiment 60 of the present invention is illustrated inFIGS. 6 and 7. This alternate embodiment is designed to facilitate arelatively wide supported member or rafter. Such embodiment includes aseat portion having a seat member 70, a pair of seat sides 71, 71, anail hole 74 in the member 70 and a pair of nail holes 72 in the sides71.

The connection portion of the alternate embodiment includes a pair ofside connection brackets 61 and 62, top and bottom connecting strips 64and 64, and a pair of connection flanges 65 and 66. An opening 68 isprovided in the connection portion. The flanges 65 and 66, unlike theflanges 31 and 32 of the preferred embodiment, are generally rectangularand extend the entire length of the longitudinal edges of the opening68. The brackets 61 and 62 are provided with dimpled nail openings 69,while the flanges are provided with normal nail openings 67.

Although the description of the preferred embodiment has been quitespecific, it is contemplated that various changes could be made to thestructure of the present invention without deviating from the spiritthereof. Accordingly, it is intended that the scope of the presentinvention be dictated by the appended claims rather than by thedescription of the preferred embodiment.

I claim:
 1. A slope and skew hanger for mounting a supported woodenmember relative to a supporting wooden member in which said supportedmember includes top and bottom edges, a pair of spaced parallel sidesjoining said top and bottom edges and an end and in which saidsupporting member includes a front face, said hanger comprising:a seatportion including a seat member adapted for engagement with the bottomedges of said supported member, said seat member having a seat end and apair of parallel seat edges extending from said first end and a pair ofseat sides integrally connected with said seat member and extendingupwardly from said seat member along said pair of seat edges atsubstantially right angles to said seat member, each of said seat sidesincluding a nail opening to receive a nail for connecting said seatsides to said sides of said supported member; and a connection portionadapted for connection to a portion of said supported member and thefront face of said supporting member and being integrally joined withsaid seat portion along a first bend line defined by said seat end, saidconnection portion having top and bottom outer edges, a pair of outerside edges and a closed integral opening having continuous top andbottom opening edges and a pair of opening side edges, said connectionportion further including a pair of side connection brackets adapted forconnection with said front face of said supporting member, each of saidside connection brackets having an outer side edge coincidingrespectively with an outer side edge of said connection portion, top andbottom edges coinciding respectively with portions of said top andbottom outer edges of said connection portion, an inner edge coincidingrespectively with an opening side edge and at least one nail opening toreceive a nail for connecting said side connecting bracket to said frontface of said supporting member, a single piece, continuous topconnection strip integrally connected with a top portion of each sideconnection bracket adjacent to said top edge of said connection bracketand including an outer edge coinciding with a portion of said top outeredge of said connection portion and an inner edge coinciding with saidtop opening edge of said internal opening, a bottom connection stripintegrally connected with a bottom portion of each side connectionbracket adjacent to said bottom edge of said connection bracket andincluding an outer edge coinciding with said first bend line and aninner edge coinciding with said bottom opening edge of said internalopening, and a pair of connection flanges adapted for connection toopposite sides of said supported member, each of said flanges beingintegrally connected with and extending outwardly from a correspondingone of said side connection brackets along a second bend line, each ofsaid second bend lines defined by a portion of said inner edge of saidcorresponding one of said side connection brackets, each of said flangesfurther including at least one nail opening to receive a nail forconnecting said flange to one of said sides of said supported member,each of said side connection brackets further being bendable relative tosaid top and bottom connection strips along respective third bend linesdefined by said inner edge of each of said side connection brackets. 2.The hanger of claim 1 wherein each of said pair of connection flangesextends outwardly from substantially the entire length of a respectiveone of said opening side edges.
 3. The hanger of claim 2 wherein each ofsaid pair of connection flanges extends outwardly from a respective oneof said opening side edges a distance less than one half of the lengthof said top opening edge.
 4. The hanger of claim 2 wherein said topconnection strip includes a nail receiving hole therein.
 5. The hangerof claim 1 wherein said pair of connection flanges are offset from oneanother.
 6. The hanger of claim 5 wherein each of said pair ofconnection flanges extends outwardly from one of said opening side edgesa distance substantially equal to the length of said top opening edge.7. The hanger of claim 1 wherein said seat member includes a nailreceiving opening.
 8. The hanger of claim 1 wherein said nail receivingopening in each of said side connection brackets includes an anglenailing feature comprising a raised portion formed from said sideconnection bracket and a nail opening offset from the symmetrical centerof said raised portion.
 9. The hanger of claim 8 wherein said raisedportion is a dome-shaped portion intersecting the front face of saidside connection bracket in a circular configuration.
 10. The hanger ofclaim 9 wherein said nail receiving opening in said side connectionbrackets is offset from the symmetrical center of said dome-shapedportion in a direction toward the outer side edge of said sideconnection bracket.